Great Southern Compassionate Communities

Communities in the Great Southern are being encouraged to talk about dying, death and loss as part of a project focused on shifting community culture and improving end of life care and support.

Compassionate Communities is a whole of community approach to increasing awareness of end of life, and empowering people to live and die well, at home where possible.

The project, which is being delivered in partnership by WA Primary Health Alliance and the City of Albany, is one of 11 being delivered nationally through funding from the Australian Government through the Primary Health Network program.

A key focus of the project is to influence community attitudes about the end-of-life, and some of the practical issues (such as care) that arise. This will involve encouraging the community to think and talk about things such as:

Accepting that death, dying and loss is normal/natural

Thinking through future treatment and care needs

Making an Advance Care Plan to help family, friends, carers and health professionals understand how you would like to be cared for now and in the future

What practical support might be needed to enable terminally ill people to die at home, and how to support family, friends and carers through periods of caring and eventual death

Encouraging broader and shared community support during periods of caring and grief.

Better health,
together

WA Primary Health Alliance acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the country on which we work and live and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to Elders both past and present.